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Celtic studies is based on the celtic languages. However, as Professor Séamus Mac Mathúna of the University of Ulster and the chair of the relevant RAE subpanel explains, the subject is much broader than just the study of Irish or Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Breton, Manx or Cornish.

"The subject includes everything that derives from the languages and everything that can be expressed in them," he says. "It includes the literature, the myths, the religion, the politics, in fact all aspects of the non-material culture in all historical periods and in all places. Anyone interested in the subject could pursue it from a purely linguistic angle or from the perspective of one of the important sub-disciplines, by combining it for example with the archaeology of pre-Roman Britain. The subject can also be studied from the angle of modern minority-language policy. The field is very broad and is becoming increasingly popular."

Ulster itself is a major centre for celtic studies and offers, among other subjects, an MA in Irish and Scottish studies. Many of the institutions with postgraduate programmes are located in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, however options are also offered by Bath Spa, Cambridge, Exeter, Liverpool, and Oxford.

According to Séamus, some of the attraction of the subject to students has been created by the emergence of new political institutions and new approaches to identity within the countries and regions of the UK and Ireland. However, despite the fact that it is here that the languages are taught and where the heart of the subject is, there are also major institutions teaching the subject on the continent and in north America, and there is a flow of postgraduate students in all directions.

Attesting to the increased popularity of the discipline is the expansion of the department at the University of Aberdeen. This October a new MLitt in language planning and policy is being added to its existing MLitt in Irish and Scottish studies.

An example of a programme which takes an interdisciplinary approach is Cardiff University's MA in early celtic studies which is taught between the School of Welsh and the School of History and Archeology. Alan Lane is senior lecturer in archeology at the university. "The programme uses both literary and archeological sources," he says. "It attracts a cross section of students some of whom come from a history background and others who are interested in exploring notions of celticness, in some cases highly romanticised notions.

"Some of the big questions of celtic history have received a lot of exposure in recent years. These are big questions of identity that make this such an interesting subject."